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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has called on the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to publish the remuneration of all public office holders, including members of the National Assembly, saying greater transparency would end public speculation about lawmakers’ earnings and allowances.
Bamidele said legislators neither determine nor approve their own salaries, stressing that the responsibility rests exclusively with the RMAFC.
Speaking during an interview with journalists in Abuja, he said full disclosure of the earnings of elected and appointed public officials would help Nigerians better understand the realities of public service and strengthen confidence in democratic institutions.
“All allowances received by parliamentarians, at both the federal and state levels, should be published. Published fully, publicly, and once and for all.
“Legislators do not set their own salaries. Our remuneration is determined by the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission. It is not within our power to fix.”
Bamidele argued that the lack of publicly available information on legislative remuneration has fuelled misconceptions about lawmakers and created unrealistic expectations among constituents.
He said many Nigerians assume legislators have unlimited access to public funds, whereas lawmakers are often confronted with numerous demands from constituents without a proper understanding of their actual earnings.
“The mystery surrounding legislative remuneration breeds assumption, and assumption, in this case, does not favour legislators.”
He also clarified that the vehicles allocated to senators and members of the House of Representatives are official working tools and not personal gifts.
“The vehicles allocated to senators and members of the House of Representatives are not personal property. They are official vehicles provided to enable constituency work and legislative duties, no different in principle from official vehicles provided to directors, permanent secretaries and ministers across the executive arm of government.”
Bamidele maintained that the proposed disclosure should cover all categories of public office holders and not be limited to lawmakers.
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“My position is clear. The Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission should publish comprehensively what every category of public office holder earns, National Assembly members, state assembly members, ministers and all other relevant categories. That settles the matter permanently,” he stated.
The Senate Leader said parliament is often subjected to criticism because of its constitutional oversight responsibilities, noting that lawmakers inevitably attract opposition when they scrutinise ministries, departments and agencies of government.
According to him, legislative institutions are rarely popular anywhere in the world because effective oversight can be uncomfortable for those being held accountable.
Bamidele also defended the 10th Senate against allegations that it had acted as a rubber stamp for the executive, insisting that the National Assembly had worked collaboratively with the executive arm while maintaining its independence.
He said disagreements with the executive were often resolved through consultations rather than public confrontations, noting that several government nominations and policy proposals had been reviewed and, in some cases, returned for corrections before reaching the Senate floor.
“The difference between the 10th Assembly and some previous assemblies is that we chose to resolve our disagreements privately rather than perform them publicly,” he said.
Bamidele highlighted some of the legislature’s interventions aimed at easing economic hardship, including the passage of tax reform bills, the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), and legislation that paved the way for the creation of the Ministry of Livestock.
He said the tax reforms would particularly benefit low-income earners and small businesses by reducing their tax burden.
Reflecting on the performance of the 10th Senate, Bamidele acknowledged that one of its lowest moments was the period when public attention was dominated by controversies surrounding the suspension of a senator, which he said overshadowed legislative work.
However, he maintained that the Senate had recorded significant achievements through legislation and oversight, especially in the areas of economic reforms, education, agriculture, health and finance.
He added that transparency in public remuneration, including that of lawmakers, remained essential to strengthening public trust and promoting a more informed national conversation on governance.
